Among Thursday’s action, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy held on for a key 1-1 draw against the defending U-17/18 national champion New York Red Bulls to win Group E. Both teams finish tied in points with seven, but Shattuck held the goal differential advantage over New York to win the group. Shattuck’s Abdulla Al-Kalisy scored the game’s first goal off of a Geoffrey Dee assist. Al-Kalisy and Dee were part of a group of six Shattuck players who were on the runner-up squad that fell to the Red Bulls in overtime in last year’s Development Academy Finals in Houston.

Elsewhere, first-season Academy member Bethesda-Olney showcased its muscle with a victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC to win Group F. Bethesda-Olney went 3-0-0 and outscored its opponents 15-5.

The strongest offensive performance in the U-17/18 Academy Playoffs came from Seattle Sounders FC, which won Group H and posted a 3-1 victory against Real Salt Lake AZ in the group finale. Seattle scored 16 goals in three games and went a perfect 3-0-0.